Food Network cancels cooking competition show

Top Chef Canada gets out of the kitchen

The Food Network is hanging up the apron when it comes to hit show Top Chef Canada.

Shaw Media confirmed Friday the show — which pitted 14 chefs from across Canada against each other in kitchen competitions — would not return for a fifth season.

“We watch audience trends very closely and, after four years, our audiences are telling us they’re hungry for new programs. We are in a world where the audience demand and choices are the key to our continued success. We need to stay ahead of the trends, be where their preferences are heading,” said Christine Shipton, Shaw Media’s vice-president of original content, in a written statement.

The series of challenges was judged by Toronto chef Mark McEwan of Bymark and North 44 fame, and others. The winner took home $100,000 and the title.

The Food Network will continue to air the original Top Chef series this fall, as well as a show called Top Chef Duels.